Five health benefits of kissing

According to Match.com, kissing can actually help you live a longer, healthier life. Here are the six health benefits...

#1.) Your Teeth Stay Cleaner. Kissing can help break down plaque and prevent cavities. It stimulates the creation of saliva, which helps wash away bacteria from your teeth. And the minerals in saliva also help rebuild tooth enamel and prevent decay.

#2.) It Keeps You Looking Younger. You use over 30 facial muscles when you're kissing, which helps keep those muscles smooth and tight and supposedly prevents your cheeks from sagging.

#3.) It Revs Up Your Metabolism. When you get ready to kiss someone, your heart rate usually speeds up. And as your heart beats faster, it releases adrenaline and other neurotransmitters in the blood.

--That boost in adrenaline increases your metabolism, and helps burn extra calories. During a really passionate kiss, you can actually burn anywhere from two to five calories per minute. That's double your normal resting rate.

#4.) It Improves Your Mood and Decreases Stress. In addition to adrenaline, kissing also releases the "feel-good" hormone oxytocin. And it helps lower your cortisol and cholesterol levels, too.

#5.) It Boosts Your Immune System. Swapping spit means swapping germs . . . and being exposed to others people's germs causes your body to make antibodies, which can lead to immunity and prevent illness.

#6.) It Relieves Pain. Kissing releases chemicals called endorphins, which can help relieve pain without the side effects of regular medicine.